The Goldstein race was one of the closest in the 2025 election. Liberal candidate Tim Wilson reclaimed the seat, defeating the incumbent teal independent MP Zoe Daniel, who had won the seat from Wilson in 2022. Zoe Daniel did not immediately concede defeat, noting the tight margin and the ongoing count of approximately 5,000 postal and absentee ballots.
Wilson took issue with Daniel’s stance. In a victory speech on May 7, he “took aim” at her for not conceding promptly, contrasting it with his own concession to her in 2022 after a “brutal” loss. He suggested her social media posts awaiting further results were disrespectful to the democratic process, and his public remarks implied her actions were inappropriate.
With the votes now counted, Daniel has requested a recount, which she is entitled to do under Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) rules, based on the narrow margin (128 votes). The AEC allows candidates to request recounts if they provide evidence of potential counting issues, even for margins above 100 votes. Daniel’s call for a recount was supported by her team’s efforts to ensure all votes were accurately counted, with her thanking scrutineers and AEC staff for their work.
This might have triggered Tim Wilson, who promptly belted out this snarky tweet:
But…
Wilson’s own conduct during the vote count has raised significant questions, particularly due to leaked WhatsApp messages from a group called “Goldstein blue tsunami.” On May 18, The Guardian reported that Wilson urged his scrutineers to “knock out informal votes” for Zoe Daniel, warning that her team was doing so “with extreme precision” against him. In the messages, Wilson emphasized the “EXTREME necessity for scrutineers to be available” as Daniel’s team narrowed his lead to 294 votes by May 15 (later reported as 291). He noted that if a full recount occurred, his team would need a “massive scrutineering team” to challenge votes, as scrutineers can dispute ballots that are unclear, use ticks/crosses instead of numbers, or lack proper AEC signatures.
These messages should spark concerns about Wilson’s tactics, as urging scrutineers to “knock out” votes could be perceived as encouraging aggressive challenges to valid ballots to secure his lead. While scrutineers are legally allowed to challenge informal votes, the tone of Wilson’s messages – describing a “race to see who can knock out the most votes” – potentially undermines the integrity of the count.
The old saying, “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” has found a willing patron in Tim Wilson.
But this episode is more than just a focus on Wilson’s antics, it is also about upholding democratic processes.
PS: Courtesy of Terry Mills, for added interest…
“It would be interesting to know the extent to which Wilson’s pitch for the Zionist vote influenced that small sector of the Goldstein electorate.”
Also by Michael Taylor: Understanding “Liberal values”
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Absolutely baffled that the voters of Goldstein could even consider voting for him.
They had a brilliant member in Zoe Daniel. Only wish we had had the same caliber of candidate up here in the North.
Everybody should know by now that Wilson is a sad , pathetic little thin skinned arsehole, who is not above every dirty trick in the book,with an ego boosted by his IPA education in (false) superiority.
If he looses the recount(assuming they have one),you can be sure that our Timmy will take it all the way to Chuckles the III….before he explodes in a shower of shit.
Was an anonymous brochure circulated in Goldstein accusing ZD of being anti-semitic? you can see how some of the less well-educated Jewish voters particularly, might react to such a thing. Knowing Tim’s past performances in misinformation not hard to see how he could have been behind it.
Harry,
If, on the off chance, that Princess Timmy loses the recount he’ll go full on Trumpy with loud bullshit laden cries of, “Stolen election! Rigged! Wail! Scream! Sob!” and throw himself to floor and have a huge childish tantrum.
Well before election day, Wilson conveniently sent well-organised postal vote forms to residents of Goldstein, with envelope to Electoral Commission. Nicely done out with all the right boxes ticked to vote for Tim Wilson. So very thoughtful, I reflected, as I ckucked mine into the bin.
It would be interesting to know the extent to which Wilson’s pitch for the Zionist vote influenced that small sector of the Goldstein electorate.
Banner Advertisement adopted by Tim Wilson has been added to the article.
Wot Harry Lime said..
Still wondering what Daniel did that was sooooo bad that the voters would consider voting this absolute grub back in. On what planet do they think he is no longer corrupt and is the better option than Daniel???????????????
Certainly is a glaring reflection of the electorate.
Most electorates are divided, both along party lines and along interested and disinterested lines. When we consider most election results went to the counting of preferences to achieve a majority, (50% plus 1 vote) there are very few candidates who achieved a result on a primary vote count.
There were also quite a number which took over a week of counting and checking to achieve a result.
Campaigns are inevitably aimed at the middle ground, and if a vested interest can be found, for example a race card to play, it can make a difference.
That’s the nature of democracy.
I’m with Romeo Charlie. Timmy is known to stoop as low as necessary to get grifting.
He was our “Freedom Boy” on the Human Rights commission which he campaigned to demolish, remember?
As Freedom Boy he was paid $330K + expenses to basically harass a highly qualified legal person who was the commissioner. His own qualification(if any) pales into nothing in comparison.
Typical of Timmy Boy.
Zoe Daniel is one of the few Teals who is willing to state a position on a range of issues and answer questions.
I could understand if my electorate (Kooyong) had shunned the vacuous, policy free zone that is Monique Ryan, but not Zoe Daniel.
Pity she wasn’t in Kooyong